I have been working with Almasi since its first staged reading, A Raisin in the Sun, when I was still a theatre student at the University of Zimbabwe. From the reading, I was fortunate to be accepted into the playwrights intensive which was run by Nikkole Salter. There I was selected as the participant who was to be mentored by Nikkole. This was followed by another staged reading of The Convert, directed by Danai Gurira.
Read MoreMy passion lies in primarily telling stories through the body. My desire is to see the body profoundly communicate that which we are sometimes shy or afraid to speak. I was honored to have been selected by Almasi Collaborative Arts to lead a seven-day physical theatre lab, an exploration focusing on character creation and development.
Read MoreAthol Fugard has always and still is one of my greatest storytellers of all time, since the first day I bumped into Sizwe Bansi is dead then No Good Friday. So picking the play was quiet an easy task for me. When I picked up Nongogo, even before I had gone through the first act of I knew this was the play for me. It was bridled with so much passion, the character’s desires were so concrete and vivid like Johnnie’s cloths.
Read MoreWhen Patience Tawengwa called me three years ago to ask if I was interested in participating in the inaugural staged reading by Almasi, A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, directed by American director and dramaturge Julia Wharton, little did I know that this would mark the beginning of a life changing journey for me as a passionate performing artist.
Read MoreThe nature of the Zimbabwean dramatic arts industry has always been about a bunch of people with a lot of heart and passion struggling their way through and learning through their numerous failures. There are very limited places where one can go and learn about the craft they hope to hone.
Read MoreBefore I attended Almasi African Playwrights Festival, If I was asked if I could see progress in the space of two weeks, the answer was going to be an unequivocal no. I had been playing and toying with an idea since the beginning of last year. That year ended with a half finished product.
Read MoreThe most important lesson I learnt about playwriting during the Playwright’s Festival is that a play that goes through a rigorous development process can only get better. Under the guidance and help of Robert Egan and Stephen Belber, I watched in delightful surprise as my play continuously improved right until the day of the staged reading.
Read MoreThe Almasi Directorship program, has been an exciting journey for me. My first staged reading “Necessary Targets” under Julie Wharton’s directing, was really when it all began. I began to understand the complexity of directing a play, how important it was for actors go through the text in detail. I also learnt from the previous staged readings and from our mentor, the importance of making actors feel a sense of ownership of the production.
Read MoreI recently returned from Zimbabwe; we held our annual retreat and simultaneously conducted a training workshop with American Actor Ross Marquand. We then immediately continued with our Staged Reading Series/Director Mentor Program, this reading helmed by local artist Kudzi Sevenzo.
Read MoreIt started last year with me, a stage reading mentee director participating in the staged reading of Necessary Targets as an actor. The Mentor Director, Julia Wharton wanted us, would be stage reading directors, to experience the process as actors/directors in training.
Read MoreWhen I first read "Fabulation or The Re-Education of Undine" I was drawn in by the similarities which exist between Undine's self discovery journey and the search for identity for many of us contemporary Africans. Most Africans of my generation have parents who were born and raised in the rural areas of colonial Africa, only after independence were black Africans able to freely move from "Africans only" designated townships to the affluent and formerly all white suburbs.
Read MoreI have always been someone who relishes a challenge and takes whatever is thrown at me, so when about two years ago this chance to audition for grad school in USA was handed to me I jumped on it. 2015 now I’m in the US, as they call it. Indeed the audition process has been an experience.
Read MoreTwenty three hours of travel can make anyone cranky but not when you visiting the USA for the first time. Leaving Zimbabwe at 1230, landing in South Africa at 2:30PM then a 6 hour layover. I was still sane then and rearing to go, my schedule said I would leave SA at 8:30PM and land in Abu Dhabi at 645am then leave for New York at 1045 and land at 4pm.
Read MoreThere can be no keener rewarding journey than that of physical self-discovery and self- awareness. It is a journey that enriches your mind, your body and on top of it all your ability to love yourself. I am honored and blessed to be taking part in this journey. I am really falling deeper in love with myself, my craft and my artistic mission. All this is being facilitated through the intermediate I chose to walk this journey through with.
Read MoreGideon Jeph Wabvuta is a recent graduate of the University of Zimbabwe Bachelor of Arts program in Theater. He has been a part of almost all Almasi trainings and productions. He is currently one of our Director Mentees. Gideon has a dream. He seeks to attend an American Masters of Fine Arts Program in Acting. Gideon is a very ambitious, hardworking and driven young man.
Read MoreI have never liked the expression 'to kill two birds with one stone' because of the suggested violence against the birds! Plus, it's a destructive image. When I'm taking care of two tasks at once, I feel pretty constructive. So I have chosen the alternative 'watering two plants with one hose' in talking about my most recent Almasi project. It alludes to the nurturing aim of Almasi's work as well as the two track focus of this initiative.
Read MoreI discovered at a very tender age that I had the ability to actually tell stories and change people's lives. From that time I struggled to find the right medium to use to tell these stories. I tried different ones: the pen, the voice, the brush but still I could not find the “right satisfaction” that I longed for. Through time, I found that my body was my perfect medium. I started using it and bang! All the “right satisfaction” came.
Read MoreWhen Danai first approached me to lead a Shakespeare and August Wilson acting workshop in Zimbabwe, I was equal parts thrilled and terrified. My career thus far involved mostly working as an actor, and my teaching experience was minimal. In preparation, I scoured through all my old acting notes and brushed up on the eight plays we would cover in class.
Read MoreI got an email today from one of my favorite Zimbabwean Artists. Tafadzwa Bob Mutumbi (affectionately called TafBob by many, a meshing of his African and Western names) is a face I am sure you all know well by now if you have received our newsletters, browsed our website or looked at our e - blasts.
Read MoreAndre Holland has been in Zimbabwe for the last several weeks teaching our first Actor’s Intensive with a focus on August Wilson and Shakespeare. He has had an astounding impact on our students, with many of them making wonderful strides in technique, performance and comprehension of great texts. We received emails from the actors too, raving about their experience in the room with him, here's one we thought to share...
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